A few days ago, PETA’s Vegan blog published an article about dolphin Annessa, with the aim of convincing people that they should support Morgan’s release. They used the example of dolphin Annessa trying to demonstrate that those dolphins that are born under human care can be reintroduced into their natural habitat. They say that Annessa was seen all the time and that she is supposed to be 36 years old. We are moved by how facts are distorted, since that information reported by a girl named Tanja (supposedly Dr. Tanja Breining) does not correspond to the truth.
Since Annessa, who was born in the USA at the Dolphin Research Centre in Florida, was thrown into the sea by a storm, she only was seen once after her disappearance, a few days after the incident. Since then, there is no trace of her. Nobody has been able to prove that someone has seen her or that she lived longer. It is nonsense that PETA claims exactly the opposite, not being aware of the consequences of these false statements about animals, which reopen the wound of caregivers and true dolphin lovers who feel they have lost a member of their family because of the storm, as Mandy Rodriguez, co-founder and Chief Executive of Dolphin Research Centre, shared on her website dolphinaria.truth.
RicO’Barry, who spread false information last summer about Morgan, supports PETA on this issue. In the interview, to which PETA refers, he declared arrogantly that he could reintroduce dolphins taking the incorrect and misconceived story of Annessa. He ensures that he has returned “many” dolphins into their habitat. But he also has been unable to scientifically prove it. Nevertheless, what has been legally proven is his incorrect handling with the dolphins he has “released”, because due to his inability, either they do not survive or are captured. Therefore, neither in this case nor in the fall of Annessa, he can speak about a successful release or a new life at sea.
People, who distort facts in their favor as PETA and O’Barry do in this case, are not reliable. They deceive with fake publications in order to receive donations. The distortion of facts in Annessa’s story is merely one example. For this reason, we will not agree to dialogue or cooperate with PETA, O’Barry, or any other organization that disseminates false information, and even less to fulfill their requirements. They have been disqualified several times, both as an organization and as a reliable source of information, no matter how many signatures they say they have collected.
Here you can read the whole statement again, made by Mandy Rodriguez, co-founder and Chief Executive of Dolphin Research Centre in Florida, “O’Barry and others have no evidence to support their claim that Annessa was alive and seen “all the time” when she disappeared after a storm many years ago. They were incapable of identifying her from any other dolphin. For many weeks, DRC caregivers who knew her since the day that she was born, and could easily recognize her, searched throughout the Florida Keys – including responding to possible sightings from the general public. There was a single instance of a photo of her that we were able to confirm soon after the storm, but that was all. It’s important to note that in that single photograph we saw, it was clear that Annessa had already lost a considerable amount of weight and was not sustaining herself in the wild. Unfortunately, Annessa was never seen again and there is no evidence to suggest that she survived long term.” And she adds “O’Barry and others use this unsubstantiated rumor in an attempt to support their agenda. Not only are they continuing to spread false information that is ultimately misleading to their followers and the general public, but each mention of Annessa reopens a wound in the hearts of DRC personnel and dolphin lovers who lost a beloved family member.”
After that statement, it is clear to everyone that those who are against dolphinariums have to lie to argue against our keeping, because they have no evidences for our care to be negative for Morgan or any other dolphin under our protection. Several individual experts and expert teams guarantee animal welfare in our dolphin’s lagoon and in Orca Ocean. We also acknowledge medical information that shows that our animals are well here and that our care it does not affect them negatively (because of high levels of stress, for example). The most important institution for animal welfare in Spain, as well as the authorities, has also confirmed it. They have both data and our animals at their disposal.
We encourage you to visit our dolphinarium where you will not only know the truth about dolphin care, but you will also learn about these animals. Each one of our visitors, more than one million a year, can note that our animals are well looked-after, and they can also see the love and respect they receive from us. We should not let that a radical and fanatic minority spread false information against dolphinariums on the Internet.
Appendix: Original citation
“O’Barry and others have no evidence to support their claim that Annessa was alive and seen “all the time” when she disappeared after a storm many years ago. They were incapable of identifying her from any other dolphin. For many weeks, DRC caregivers who knew her since the day that she was born, and could easily recognize her, searched throughout the Florida Keys – including responding to possible sightings from the general public. There was a single instance of a photo of her that we were able to confirm soon after the storm, but that was all. It’s important to note that in that single photograph we saw, it was clear that Annessa had already lost a considerable amount of weight and was not sustaining herself in the wild. Unfortunately, Annessa was never seen again and there is no evidence to suggest that she survived long term.”
“O’Barry and others use this unsubstantiated rumor in an attempt to support their agenda. Not only are they continuing to spread false information that is ultimately misleading to their followers and the general public, but each mention of Annessa reopens a wound in the hearts of DRC personnel and dolphin lovers who lost a beloved family member.”
